臺山(shan)(shan)廣(guang)海城(cheng)東(dong)象(xiang)山(shan)(shan)之靈湖寺(si)(si)(si),建(jian)于(yu)(yu)南北朝時(shi)期,寺(si)(si)(si)依象(xiang)山(shan)(shan)玄武(wu),呈瑞象(xiang),左有(you)(you)蓮花山(shan)(shan)(0青龍),右有(you)(you)虎頭山(shan)(shan)(0白(bai)虎),前(qian)(qian)(qian)有(you)(you)沙堤﹡大(da)小(xiao)二排斷(duan)中(zhong)為(wei)小(xiao)象(xiang)(做朱雀案(an)山(shan)(shan)供養(yang))自(zi)然成(cheng)(cheng)湖,故名靈湖。源于(yu)(yu)梁武(wu)帝(di)天(tian)(tian)監元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元502年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))天(tian)(tian)竺(印度)高僧智藥(yao)(yao)三(san)藏(zang)(zang)法(fa)師(shi);帶(dai)兩棵菩(pu)提(ti)圣(sheng)樹,浮海來(lai)華(hua),因(yin)(yin)臺風受阻,于(yu)(yu)廣(guang)海靈湖登陸,建(jian)阿(a)蘭若(ruo)居之。并(bing)在伽藍內植下中(zhong)國第一棵菩(pu)提(ti)樹。智藥(yao)(yao)三(san)藏(zang)(zang)后(hou)(hou)前(qian)(qian)(qian)往廣(guang)州光孝寺(si)(si)(si)于(yu)(yu)戒(jie)壇上(shang)植下第二棵菩(pu)提(ti)樹,并(bing)立(li)(li)碑(bei)預言“170年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou)將(jiang)有(you)(you)一肉身菩(pu)提(ti)于(yu)(yu)這棵樹下,開(kai)(kai)演(yan)無(wu)上(shang)微妙(miao)法(fa),傳佛心印,度無(wu)量眾生”,之后(hou)(hou)前(qian)(qian)(qian)往韶(shao)關(guan)曲江(jiang)曹溪寶(bao)林(lin)(lin)山(shan)(shan)開(kai)(kai)山(shan)(shan)創建(jian)南華(hua)寺(si)(si)(si),并(bing)再次立(li)(li)碑(bei)預言“176年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou)將(jiang)有(you)(you)一肉身菩(pu)薩來(lai)此:演(yan)無(wu)上(shang)法(fa)寶(bao)得(de)道者如(ru)林(lin)(lin)”。唐龍塑元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)辛酉禪宗六祖惠能祖師(shi)自(zi)湖北黃(huang)梅五祖處得(de)法(fa)南歸(gui)。丙子二月初八在廣(guang)州光孝寺(si)(si)(si)智藥(yao)(yao)三(san)藏(zang)(zang)法(fa)師(shi)手植菩(pu)提(ti)樹下剃(ti)度受戒(jie)。后(hou)(hou)前(qian)(qian)(qian)往韶(shao)關(guan)曹溪寶(bao)林(lin)(lin)山(shan)(shan)中(zhong)興(xing)南華(hua)寺(si)(si)(si)并(bing)弘揚頓悟(wu)法(fa)門。因(yin)(yin)智藥(yao)(yao)三(san)藏(zang)(zang)法(fa)師(shi)兩次有(you)(you)關(guan)六祖的預言得(de)到(dao)印證,遂成(cheng)(cheng)千古頌,故名靈湖寺(si)(si)(si)。留下勝因(yin)(yin),香(xiang)(xiang)火益盛,寺(si)(si)(si)宇(yu)塑像(xiang),堂皇古雅(ya),蓮燈長明,向有(you)(you)吉(ji)祥(xiang)福(fu)地之稱。廣(guang)海城(cheng)東(dong)蓮花洋(yang)上(shang)大(da)象(xiang)馱小(xiao)象(xiang),代(dai)代(dai)出和尚,早弛圣(sheng)域之譽,歷史悠(you)久,寺(si)(si)(si)之名號(hao)益顯(xian)。年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)久代(dai)湮,殿閣(ge)災余,金(jin)色(se)消沉。靈湖寺(si)(si)(si)初毀于(yu)(yu)宋末,元至(zhi)正(zheng)8年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1348年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重(zhong)建(jian),明洪(hong)武(wu)30年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1397年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重(zhong)修,清咸(xian)豐6年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1856年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)同(tong)治二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))土(tu)客紛爭,寺(si)(si)(si)宇(yu)被(bei)焚(fen),僅(jin)焦(jiao)土(tu)。光緒10年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))廣(guang)海奇石彭鳳桐志慕云林(lin)(lin)主持重(zhong)建(jian)。峻工后(hou)(hou)善行圓滿(man),整座嶺南建(jian)筑,布局(ju)宏偉壯觀(guan),即(ji)易名“靈湖古寺(si)(si)(si)”。1937年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)寺(si)(si)(si)又(you)遭洗劫。1947年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)住持繼慈法(fa)師(shi)得(de)0檀越。奇石建(jian)筑商余沛捐香(xiang)(xiang)資略加(jia)維修。后(hou)(hou)由于(yu)(yu)發生震動,歷史沿(yan)革,世法(fa)無(wu)常,年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)代(dai)變遷名寺(si)(si)(si)淪為(wei)療養(yang)院及(ji)駐軍牧馬之場地。
際茲國運興(xing)隆,宗教政策(ce)落實,靈湖寺(si)教產歸還佛(fo)教界(jie)管理。2006年7月11日原(yuan)廣(guang)(guang)州大(da)(da)佛(fo)寺(si)常住僧人(ren)(ren)釋仁偉為還乙酉仲廈夢中(zhong)愿(yuan),經臺(tai)山(shan)(shan)市(shi)(shi)博物館領導介紹來(lai)寺(si),主持恢(hui)復,重(zhong)興(xing)祖師道場。古寺(si)滿目瘡痍,師嘆:“禪林凋(diao)零,梵剎之凄清(qing)”。恒(heng)蓄興(xing)建宏愿(yuan),趁政策(ce)之修(xiu)明,善(shan)因夙愿(yuan),法緣廣(guang)(guang)洽(qia),心(xin)(xin)殷圣域重(zhong)光。承蒙(meng)廣(guang)(guang)東省江(jiang)門(men)市(shi)(shi)政協(xie)、臺(tai)山(shan)(shan)市(shi)(shi)政府、廣(guang)(guang)海(hai)(hai)鎮(zhen)各(ge)級領導支持及海(hai)(hai)內外(wai)眾(zhong)善(shan)信(xin)之扶持,智藥三藏祖師常寂(ji)光中(zhong)加持。涓吉丙戌(xu)年觀音出(chu)家(jia)吉日動土修(xiu)復靈湖寺(si)兜(dou)率內院,同年季(ji)冬(dong)26日竣工(gong),歷時數月,工(gong)程費用龐大(da)(da)。緣荷嶺南善(shan)信(xin)居(ju)士(shi)動員廣(guang)(guang)州、深圳、中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)、佛(fo)山(shan)(shan)、江(jiang)門(men)等地(di)信(xin)眾(zhong)發菩提心(xin)(xin)、植(zhi)大(da)(da)福田捐資建寺(si),數額尤巨,并得(de)江(jiang)門(men)大(da)(da)檀越居(ju)士(shi)助籌香(xiang)資迎請玉佛(fo)及裝飾(shi)殿(dian)堂用品(pin)。靈湖有緣善(shan)信(xin)聯合番禺(yu)大(da)(da)石(shi)眾(zhong)善(shan)信(xin)為靈湖寺(si)做(zuo)大(da)(da)須(xu)彌山(shan)(shan)。大(da)(da)放光明。隨后東莞廣(guang)(guang)海(hai)(hai)同鄉會同仁發心(xin)(xin)捐殿(dian)外(wai)銅香(xiang)爐鋪砌180平方米花崗巖石(shi)板(ban)于寺(si)前(qian)廣(guang)(guang)場。各(ge)大(da)(da)善(shan)人(ren)(ren)崇圣同懷,慷慨豪(hao)舉協(xie)應,共(gong)修(xiu)德(de)(de)業(ye),事(shi)功(gong)告成(cheng),衹園再現,梵宇(yu)琳宮飾(shi)成(cheng);佛(fo)光普照,金洲寶界(jie)通(tong)明;海(hai)(hai)潮音起,磬唄響徹(che)云(yun)宵;蓮(lian)云(yun)法雨,福澤人(ren)(ren)天無涯。為褒揚德(de)(de)事(shi),贊譽善(shan)人(ren)(ren),乃備勒石(shi)。光昭功(gong)德(de)(de)。